Theresa May has been in Grimsby today to deliver a key speech on the UK's planned withdrawal from the European Union.

The Prime Minister ramped up pressure on the EU to help push through a Brexit deal as she addressed an audience of workers, MPs, business leaders and journalists at Orsted in the town.

Mrs May's speech came ahead of a vote by MPs on Tuesday on whether to back her Withdrawal Agreement, which was defeated by more than 200 votes last time it went before the House of Commons in January.

When she spoke in Grimsby this afternoon, Mrs May said the Government remains determined to secure legally binding changes to the Northern Ireland backstop in advance of the vote.

She also linked her concerns with what she sees as the frustrations of voters, particularly in areas such as Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire which voted strongly in favour of leaving the EU.

After the visit to Grimsby, Mrs May and Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay are thought to be likely to return to Brussels in a final bid to secure an agreement ahead of the crunch vote, with officials at 10 Downing Street understood to be hopeful of reaching a new deal by Sunday night.

Grimsby Live reporters were at the venue for Mrs May's visit and we will be providing updates throughout the day on the build-up to the speech, followed by reaction and analysis of it.

Follow our live coverage in the blog below.

15:50

The main points

In her speech in Grimsby today, Theresa May issued a strong message to the EU and also emphasised the town’s potential post-Brexit.

For the Conservative Party leader, Grimsby was a shining beacon for what she hopes Brexit will bring to bear – a rebalancing of the country away from a South East-centric economy.

“If we agree the Brexit deal, we can build the stronger communities that must be the real legacy of the vote to leave,” she told her audience of Orsted employees, Humber business officials and journalists.

It was all part of her main mission to convince Labour MPs in leave-voting areas and even her own Eurosceptic Tory backbenchers to back her EU divorce terms if they want to honour the 2016 result, with a second referendum and possibly no Brexit the likely outcome if they refuse.

Mrs May used her speech on Grimsby docks to set out her vision for a Britain on the cusp of setting sail for the rest of the world. But with only four days until the decisive second vote on her deal, time is running out for Mrs May to get the majority of the Commons on board her Brexit ship.

13:54

ITV News reporter asks why PM only took one question from a woman on International Women's Day

Claws were out on what you would hope would be a mutually respectful International Women’s Day.

With a clear list of people she would go to for questions following the speech, ITV News’ Libby Wiener took exception to a hand-up snub from the Prime Minister following her speech at Orsted in Grimsby.

As she turned to leave and head to the brand new office complex from the giant store, Wiener stood, asking why on International Women’s Day she had only taken one question from a woman in the media Q&A.

But the smiling assassin reply of: “And they’ve been answered by a woman,” came from the Prime Minister, earning her a round of applause by employees.

So what would she have asked?

“A perfectly good question,” Wiener told Grimsby Live. “How frustrated are you by the strongest advocates of Brexit in Parliament still failing to back you”.

The speech in full

13:17

BBC deputy political editor's reaction to speech

BBC deputy political editor John Pienaar, who has been in Grimsby for the speech, has been giving his reaction to it.

Speaking on the BBC News at One programme, he said pressure is intense on the Prime Minister on her deal and the prospect of getting it through Parliament. The betting is that the Government could well easily lose the vote on Tuesday and after that, there is every possibility Parliament is ready to vote against the Government line of ruling out a no-deal Brexit.

He says Mrs May is doing everything she can to turn the screws at this very late stage. Time is pretty much up and so far, there’s no sign of the breakthrough that was hoped for in the negotiations.

The BBC's deputy political editor John Pienaar does a piece to camera with the Dock Tower as the backdrop (Image: Grimsby Live)

13:09

Watch Theresa May deliver her Brexit speech in Grimsby

13:08

Sector deal brings 'huge opportunities for an area like this'

Grimsby Live’s Patrick Daly has just asked the Prime Minister about the workers’ rights concessions announced this week after pressure from MPs including Grimsby’s Melanie Onn and also this week’s announcement of the sector deal for offshore wind.

Mrs May says a number of MPs had raised workers rights and as the EU moves in future, Parliament will also have the right to look at those but the moves shouldn’t be automatic.

On the sector deal, she says the Energy Minister is here and was involved in the deal. She says it may have culminated this week but has been two years in the making. She says it’s hugely important for an area like this. There are real opportunities. It’s good for the UK and it’s good for Grimsby.

13:02

'Let's get it done'

Closing her speech, Mrs May gave a strong message to the EU around reaching a deal for the UK’s withdrawal as she twice says: “Let’s get it done.”

13:00

'Now is the moment to act'

We’re now onto the ‘backstop’ bit. Mrs May emphasises it is a insurance policy that no one wants to use but admits concerns there is no enough guarantees the UK would be able to get out of it and the customs union with EU.

She says the ball is in the EU’s court when it comes to outcome of the vote next week, saying: ‘My message to them [the EU] - now is the moment to act. We have worked hard together on a deal. It needs just one more push to address the specific concerns of our Parliament. Let’s do what is necessary for the MPs to back the deal.”

12:58

A message for Melanie Onn?

The Prime Minister moves onto the workers’ rights concessions and how MPs will be able to vote on whether to keep EU protections, even when it makes future improvements. Remember - this is something Melanie Onn MP has been calling for since the referendum result. There can be little doubt that announcing the concession just days before the PM’s visit to Grimsby was well choreographed for Ms Onn’s and other Labour MP’s benefit.

12:56

'Grimsby is a place determined to build that better future'

Mrs May says Brexit is recognition that people were “working too hard”. It is not just about leaving Brussels but “empowering local communities”.

She says Grimsby is a place determined to build that better future. It has its fair share of challenges but last year became the first to sign a town deal. It represents a collaboration with Government, local government and the community to make use of Grimsby’s strongest assets and the deal is a model for other towns to follow.

Mrs May says Grimsby’s standing on the edge of the Humber will make it a gateway to the UK after Brexit, not to mention work of Orsted and other offshore wind companies.

She says London is a great city but it is no good having all economic activity there. Brexit will allow UK to rebuild its communities.

12:52

'These are the changes people voted for'

The Prime Minister says her deal will stop money going to the EU and the UK will be able to spend on its “own priorities”. On immigration, she says the Government does not have control of how many come here from EU. May says her deal will end free movement - UK judges will take control of adjudicating on UK and the UK will do its own trade deals. The Common Fisheries Policy will put an end to unfair practises. She says: “These are the changes people voted for.”

Prime Minister pictured in Grimsby

'Grimsby has huge potential'

Mrs May says: “Like many towns, Grimsby has its difficulties but it also has huge potential.” She speaks about the signing of the Town Deal and praises the efforts of Grimsby MP Melanie Onn and Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers in making that deal happen.

12:42

PM - 'Back my deal and Brexit is delivered'

The Prime Minister is now on the stand. She says Orsted is not just creating jobs in Grimsby but also protecting the environment long-term and says the UK is now a world leader in offshore wind.

Mrs May then goes straight into the Brexit element of her speech. She has a message for MPs - back my deal next week and Brexit is delivered. Defeat it and there is no knowing what will happen. She says: “The only certainty would be ongoing uncertainty.”

12:34

Theresa May has arrived

The Prime Minister has arrived. Matthew Wright, UK managing director at Orsted, is now welcoming her and talking about the expanded company base on Grimsby Docks.

12:30

Not long to go now

One of Theresa May’s closest advisers, former MP Gavin Barwell, has just joined us, so we must be close now to the Prime Minister appearing.

Oficials from ABP, Orsted, as well as MPs and ministers, are all in the audience. With Energy Minister Claire Perry here, the offshore sector deal, signed last week, is sure to be heralded by Mrs May.

12:29

Complaints from Westminster journalists

Westminster-based journalists have been complaining about possibly not getting chosen to ask a question to the Prime Minister, saying: “That’s not on when we’ve come all this way!”

12:26

The stage is set for Theresa May's speech

The stand in the Grimsby venue where Prime Minister Theresa May will be giving her speech shortly (Image: Grimsby Live)

12:24

Journalists waiting for the Prime Minister

Journalists in a holding room att he Grimsby venue, waiting to hear a speech from Prime Minister Theresa May (Image: Grimsby Live)

12:16

Theresa May's first visit to Grimsby as Prime Minister

This is Theresa May’s first visit to Grimsby as Prime Minister. There had been plans for her to visit during the 2017 election but she was told by local MPs that Scunthorpe was the more winnable seat, so she went there instead.

The last PM to visit Grimsby? David Cameron, the day after the referendum result was declared in 2016. He attended Armed Forces Day in Cleethorpes as he promised he would.

11:48

Why all roads have led to Grimsby for Theresa May this week

Ahead of Theresa May’s speech this afternoon, Patrick Daly has been looking at why all roads have led to Grimsby for the Prime Minister this week.

Train delay update

Grimsby Live parliamentary correspondent Patrick Daly, who is travelling from London along with other Westminster journalists, said: “I’ve just spotted Quentin Letts (formerly of the Daily Mail, now of The Times) on my train - Downing Street are certainly not going to start without us and risk incurring the wrath of his pen.”

11:30

'I know you are fed up with Brexit'

Ahead of her visit to Grimsby, the Prime Minister has issued a message to the people of the area, setting out why she believes it is vital that her Brexit deal is backed when MPs vote on Tuesday and what it means for Grimsby.

Theresa May will visit Grimsby on Friday where she will deliver a key speech on Brexit (Image: Getty Images)

11:15

'Visit could put Grimsby in the minds of the London-centric media'

Another interesting point - few of the travelling pack have ever been to Grimsby before. Some commentators have called her decision to visit Grimsby as cynical given the leave-backing town should make for a sympathetic audience, but if it puts Grimsby in the minds of the London-centric media, then it will be no bad thing.

11:11

Westminster journalists delayed

Grimsby Live’s political correspondent Patrick Daly, who is on his way from London for Theresa May’s speech, said: “If there were ever a greater advert for Grimsby’s need for a direct train line, the Newark train which had been due to take half the travelling Westminster journos to the PM’s speech has been cancelled.

“We’ve had to redirect via Doncaster, creating a 20 minute delay. No. 10 are fretting over timings - they aren’t keen on the PM giving a key Brexit speech to a half-full room.”